Former Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian died at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday (Aug. 2) at his home in Granger, Indiana, the University’s president, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., announced. He was 94.

“Notre Dame mourns the loss of a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and good man – Ara Parseghian,” Father Jenkins said. “Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very best in his players, on and off the field.”

“He continued to demonstrate that leadership by raising millions of research dollars seeking a cure for the terrible disease that took the lives of three of his grandchildren. Whenever we asked for Ara’s help at Notre Dame, he was there.

“My prayers are with Katie, his family and many friends as we mourn his passing and celebrate a life that was so well lived.”

A Mass for the Feast of the Transfiguration and Celebration of the Life of Ara Parseghian will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 6) at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame. The University’s president, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., will preside. A memorial celebration will follow the Mass at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center. Family members and former players and colleagues will speak. The public is invited to both the Mass and memorial.

Parseghian, a 1980 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, led the Fighting Irish to two national championships in 1966 and 1973. The titles culminated a massive turnaround for the program, which was floundering prior to Parseghian’s arrival in 1964.

Parseghian took the reigns of a Notre Dame program that hadn’t posted a winning record in five seasons. The coach immediately reversed the Irish’s course, going 9-1 in his first season at the helm. Parseghian finished with a record of 95-17-4 over 11 seasons, including the two national championships.

Parseghian retired from coaching in 1974 and entered broadcasting, serving as a color commentator for ABC Sports from 1975-81 and as an analyst for CBS Sports’ coverage of college football through 1988.

Before he was a coach, Parseghian played halfback and defensive back at Miami (Ohio) and for the Cleveland Browns in 1948 and 1949, where he played under legendary coach Paul Brown. A hip injury ended his career prematurely, diverting Parseghian toward a career in coaching. Parseghian also served as head coach at Northwestern from 1956-63 before leaving for South Bend, Indiana.